RE: Fixation of Entire Lung

From:

huff

The only technique that I can recommend is something I saw on exhibit in
Berlin over the summer called Plastination (see
http://www.plastination.com). The technique can be applied at the whole
tissue, organ, or even body level. The technique outlined on the webpage
is for organ slices but the process is also applied to whole organs. The
samples that I saw were quite pliable and completely intact. The process
includes fixation, dehydration, forced impregnation of a polymer, and
finally curing. I would recommend that you contact them for your
particular needs. Contact information is on their web page. The result
is amazing.
I don't know though if the final tissue can be used for histochemical
processing. You will have to ask them. If you decide to use their
process, please post a follow-up. I would be interested to see what they
can offer. You can view some of the resulting "whole human body"
preparations on their exhibition website
(http://www.koerperwelten.com/index_en.htm). One of the most popular
exhibits was actually two lungs, one was from a smoker, and the other
from a non-smoker. The former was quite healthy looking and the latter
looked like a poorly paved highway. If you are interested in the image
to see the level of detail, I have a copy I could send you via email.
Hope this help,
Phillip Huff
FBN Dummerstorf
jjthorsten@mmm.com wrote:
> Hi histonetters,
>
> I am wondering if anyone knows a way to fix an entire lung to keep it as
> pliable as possible, but also to keep it from decomposing. I have
> seen in
> some educational catalogs that they have model lungs which are from pigs
> for inhalation demonstrations. Any information you can provide would be
> great.
>
> Thank You,
>
> Jason
> HT, (ASCP)
>
>
>